Swimmer&#39;s foot-paddle.



J. W. GOODENBERGER.

SWIMMERS FOOT PADDLB.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.23, 191a.

Patented Oct 20, 1914 2 SHEETS'SHBETI 3mm- JW. 60 Maybe/ hr.

. wi/fnawom J..W. GOODENBERGER.

SWIMMERS FOOT PADDLE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 23, 1913' 1,1 14,466, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED srA'rns lgENT oFFion J OHN W'. GOODENBERGER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

SWIMMERS FOOT PADDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 20, 1914;

Application filed December 23, 1913. Serial No. 808,481.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, JOHN W. GoonnN- BERGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Akron, in the county of Summit kle and will operate to givethe drive of the swimmers legs a greater bearingsurface in the water. I

An important object of the invention is to provide a paddle of thecharacter described which is secured to the ankle of the wearer by anovel form of securing means and which employs means for holding thepaddle normally in an inclined angular position relative to thelongitudinal axis of the device whereby the desired operation of thepaddle is permitted on the drive stroke of the swimmers legs. v

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is simple as to construction, consists of fewparts and which may be cheaply manufactured.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as areillustrated in the accompanyin drawings, described in the followingspecification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims whichare appended hereto and form a this application.

With reference, to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment of my invention as it isreduced to practice, andthroughout the several views of which similar reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation of thedevicefshowing the paddle in extended position, Fig. 2 is a per'SIDGOtIVG view showing the device attached to the foot of the swimmer,Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the paddle in normal position. Fig.4 is a top plan view showing the paddle in extended position. and'Fig. 5is a vertical sectional view showing the part of spring for holding thepaddle in partially extended normal position. Referring to the drawingsby characters of reference the numeral 1 designates as an entirety arectangular wing or paddle which.

is provided with an extension ear 2 intermediate the ends and along onelongitudinal edge to provide for the hinging of the pad die 1 after amanner which will i be later more fully described. The paddle or wing 1is formed of some suitable type of light sheet metal. Asa means forattaching the paddle 1 to the foot of the swimmer, there hasbeen pro:

vided an L-shaped support; designated 3 as an entirety. .This 'L-shapedsupport 3 is formed of some suitable light strap metal and is providedintermediate its longer arm with an approximately U-shaped integralframedesignated 4: as an entirety. -The body portion of this frame isintegral centrally of its ends with the longer arm of the L-shapedsupport 3 and the frame 4 is disposed at rightangles to the longer 'armin a horizontal plane. The inner ends of the arms 5 and 6 of the frame 4are enlarged as at 7 and have inserted centrally therethrough a hingepin 8 that extends across the frame. The extension 2 on the paddle 1 isrecessed centrally of its side edges as at 9 to produce a pair oftongues 10 which are bent about the pin 9 and thus hingedly secure thepaddle 1 to the L-shaped support 3. v

Mounted onthe' central portion of'thepin 8 is a coil spring 11 havingits respective terminals. 12 and13 disposed for engagement with thelonger arm of the L-shaped support 3 and the under face of the paddle1.- The spring 11 is positioned in sucha way that the paddle 1 isnormally disposed in angular spaced relation to the longer arm of thesupport 3. It has been found preferable to provide a light spring inthis connection so that upon the withdrawing movement or up-stroke ofthe swimmers legs the spring will permit inward movement of the paddle 1relative to the longer arm 3' and thus prevent impeding of the swimmersmovement.

The portion of the longer arm of the L- shaped support 3 which extendsabove the U-shaped frame 4 is curved outwardly so that when the'support3 is fitted so that the longer arm is in engagement with the side of thefoot, ankle and lower portion of the leg, it conforms to the shape ofthe leg and provides a reliable and comfortable fitting. This extendedcurved portion which for the sake of clearness is designated by thenumeral 1a is provided with a curved integral adapted to fit snuglyabout the rear of the heel of the wearer. The bottom of the heel of thewearer is adapted to engage the shorter arm 18 of the support 3 when thedevice is in assembled position as will be clearly seen with referenceto Fig. 2 in the drawings.

Formed integral with the free end of the arm 18 is an upstanding heelplate 20 that is disposed in the same position as the longer arm of thesupport 3 and adapted to engage the side of the swimmers heel when thedevice is in assembled position as illustrated in Fig. 2. The heel plate20 is provided with an offset portion 21 that is provided with anangularly disposed longitudinal slot 22. A suitable foot strap 23 isinserted through the slot 22 on the ofiset portion 21 and through a slot2 formed in an car 25 that is formed on one edge of the longer arm ofthe support 3 at a point approximately centrally of its lower end andthe point where the frame 4; is formed thereon. This strap 23 is adaptedto surround the top or instep of the wearers foot and may be providedwith a suitable adjusting buckle 26.

To'secure the device to the foot the swimmer places his heel upon thearm 18so that it is wedged'between the longer armof the support 3 andthe heel plate 20 and in bearing'engagement with the heel plate 19. Thestrap 23 is then secured after-the manner described across the instep ofthewearers foot and the strap 17 is secured in a similar manner aboutthe lower portion of the swim mers leg.

In operation, upon the thrusting or working. stroke of the swimmers leg,the paddle 1 which is normally disposed in a position in angularrelation to the longer arm of the support 3 and so that it will readilymove outwardly and engage the water, is moved outwardly upon the stroke.to a position approximately at right angles to the longs;

arm of the support 3 and to the leg of the wearer. The arms 5 and 6which extend to a point approximately centrally of the ends ofthe paddle1, engage the paddle and prevent its movement in one direction.

It will be readily seen that upon the operation of the device after themanner described, the swimmer may be readily propelled through thewater.

It will be apparent that the device, when used after the mannerdescribed, affords the use of the swimmers hands since it is necessaryto only slightly more the legs to keep above the water.

It is apparent that the device may be employed to great advantage insaving persons from drowning since the wearer may easily keep afloat andhave the use of his hands.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention,illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, asthe preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical; yetrealizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my devicewill necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minorchanges in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of theadvantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A swimmers foot paddle comprising a paddle, anL-shaped support adapted to be secured to the foot of the wearer, meansfor securing the support to the foot of the wearer, a U-shaped frameintegral with the longer arm of the support, said paddle being hingedlysecured to the U-shaped frame adjacent the inner end thereof beneath thearms of said frame, and spring means for normally holding the paddle ina divergent plane relative port.

2. A swimmers foot paddle comprising a support adapted to be secured'tothe foot of the wearer, a U-shaped frame on said support, a rectangularpaddle hingedly secured to said frame beneath the side arms thereof anda coil spring carried by said frame and having its terminals engagingthe support and paddle respectively, for holding the paddle in a normaloutwardly inclined plane relative to the support. I

3. A swimmersfoot paddle comprising a support adapted to be removablysecured to the foot of thewearer, a frame integral with the support,means for securing the support to the foot of the wearer, a rectangularpaddle hingedly secured to said frame beneath said frame, said framebeing disposed at right angles to the support and adapted to limit themovement of the paddle to a position of right angular extension and tothe longer arm of the supwith the support and extending outwardly atright angles thereto, a rectangular paddle I hingedly secured to andbeneath said frame,

said L-shaped support having its longer arm curved outwardly adjacentits upper terminal to conform to the contour of the swimmers leg, arectangular cross plate having longitudinal slots in each end formedintegral with the upper end of thelonger' arm of the support, saidplatebeing curved'to conform to the contour of the swimmers leg,

strap adapted to surround the swimmers leg inserted through theslots inthe cross plate, the shorter arm of, said L-shaped support having a pairofheel plates formedintegral therewith disposed at right angles theretoand to each other andfa securing strap se-v cured to one of said earsand to the longer arm' of the support adaptedto it over the instep ofthe wearers foot,

In testimon whereof I aifixmy signature I p in presence 0 two witnesses.I g a I JOHN W. GOODENBERGER. Witnesses: 1 p X I C. E. HUMPHREY,

F. E. SHANNON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained Ior flve centse ach, 'byaddressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, I

. Washingtom'D. G. I g I p i

